Page 529 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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behavioural problems, each classification level could include progressively more stringent restrictions placed on identified dogs and their owners. Such a system would encourage responsible dog ownership and ensure that no dog was seized or destroyed without due cause.
I have no significant issue with Ms Lawder’s proposed amendments to section 69(6), which would mean that there would no longer be a fee to surrender your dog. However, as I noted earlier, DAS does in fact have the discretion to waive surrender fees. It actually says this on their website. As I have noted before, though, I am sure it would be useful for the government to make this more clearly and widely known, together with the policy behind who is eligible. In summary, the ACT Greens will not be supporting Ms Lawder’s proposed amendments to the Domestic Animals Act.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (5.30), in reply: I am pleased to speak to this bill today as part of the continuing attempts by the Canberra Liberals to address the current crisis Canberra is experiencing in dog management. It is a public health and welfare issue and it is a dog welfare issue, and I am appalled at the continued lack of action by this government.
The Greens and Labor are continuing to take steps to make Canberra safer for our citizens and our beloved pets. I, too, have consulted widely with stakeholders. The majority of people that I have spoken to, especially those who have sought me out on this issue, are those who have personally been attacked by a dog and/or those whose beloved family pet has been mauled, often in front of them, injured, permanently maimed or even killed.
The government’s own reports seem to be languishing with no action being taken. Last year we heard of the Maxwell review, which the government received in April of 2018 and released over five months later. Of the 33 recommendations, it does not appear as though any have been implemented. It is now February 2019. What has the government done since the Maxwell report to make Canberra safer for its citizens?
This bill addresses some of the items identified in the Maxwell review, which include recommendation 11, point 3, that fees be reduced for training. The government’s response to this recommendation was that it was noted. To the Maxwell report’s recommendation 28, to remove barriers to the relinquishment of dogs, e.g. costs, the government’s response was that it agreed, and implied that it had already acted. I will come back to that again a bit later.
The amendment bill that I put to the Assembly late last year has three parts. It encourages responsible dog owners to be well trained, not just the dog. When you go to dog training, it is generally more about training the owner or the handler than training the dog. That is what I have found in my experience of many dogs over the years. Our proposal that no dog registration fee will be payable if the owner successfully completes approved dog training would encourage, in our view, people to attend approved dog training courses, learn more about responsible dog ownership and learn more about socialisation and interacting with other dogs.
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